Varielky shrugs in response to Snow's previous word. "Make of it what you will, that's what I've been taught and is the ideal I'm trying to uphold. You might be angry now, but anger fades, while regret stays for much longer. But, as I said, I'll never say no to fighting Goblins, when done right." As someone who fought out of anger many times, Varielky is experienced in both feelings. 

When Auger tries to indicate something in the basement, Varielky reaches back to her shield and tries to quietly strap it on her left arm. If he's trying to be silent, that means he doesn't want anyone to hear him... right?

‘I do not see anything,’ sends Py, as he flies to the shallow basement window. ‘I can’t see every part of the room though. Also, the window is not clear. Something could be hiding behind those… sacks of flour or something.’

Snow saw stairs in the house leading down to a basement but the fire has created a blockage of fallen charred timber across it, and the stairs are impassable. There is also a basement bulkhead or storm door on the far side of the building, Snow and Granophyre discovered in their tracking. In other words another entrance to the cellar, a large door set at a 30-degree angle leading directly, one would suppose, to a stairway to the cellar.

If asked, Py confirms that he can see stairs into the cellar on the far side of the room. 

Thanks Py, fly up and keep an eye for Goblins coming from the castle. We'll investigate the basement.

Hoping the view was obscured enough not to be seen by observers, Auger quietly tells the others what he saw, "I saw movement in the basement area, but Py cannot see through the window to confirm anything. Lets have a look in the basement - I'll keep Py out here to warn us about any Goblins approaching."

Auger then approaches the side of the building where the storm door is and moves to open it.

Granophyre walks around to the back with Auger, his expression difficult to read, but plainly tense. Where are Snow and Varielky when Auger moves to open the door?

Varielky walks with Auger, and helps open the door if it is stuck, heavy, or simply if Auger chooses to stay back. 

Snow will also make his way around to the basement door and he will take out his violin in case his magic is needed for any purpose. He will assist with the door if required, but from a short distance away using his telekinesis.

He too is hoping for a survivor, and is ready to provide healing.

”Be careful Auger, stay alert”, he whispers, inspiring Auger.

Bonus Action: Bardic Inspiration for Auger (1d8)

(OOC: He hasn’t readied an action, just that is his intent)

(OOC: I have broken things up into a few steps. Feel free to treat everything as intentions after the first paragraph)

Seeing everyone else join him, Auger is happy to have the support. Before opening the door, Auger looks back at Granophyre and notes his expression, and pauses seeking a nod of approval before continuing. He then motions for Varielky to help him open both sides of the door. 

When the door has opened, Auger, still hoping to find a survivor, calls down, "We saw you through the window. Do you need assistance? The Goblins are still nearby. We can help you get away."

If Auger hears no response, he enters, but first he summons his glowing purple globes to provide any needed light.

The four of you gather around the cellar storm doors and pull them open. From that vantage point, after the doors fall open with a hollow thud, you can see an area of the floor below, perhaps 10’ square. The floor is dirt, with a 3’ square wooden platform at the base of the steep, narrow stairs. To one side, a wall with brackets holding brushes, shovels, brooms, pails, and the like. 

The cellar has a low ceiling, and even as Auger’s lights come into being, nothing more is visible from outside. One would have to stick one’s head within or descend the stairs to see more of the room.

Auger speaks. There is no response, only silence. A faint odor of blood mingled with something acrid floats up in the interim. 

The dogs, which have followed you at a distance, crinkle their noses and begin barking again, growling, and showing their teeth. 

"Could you get the lights further inside? I'll go check what's down there." Varielky asks of Auger. Assuming he agrees, Varielky follows the lights into the cellar, to see what's inside.

Considering all the signs, Varielky doesn't believe it's a survivor anymore. It might be, but it might also not. Varielky draws her blade, ready to defend herself and attack anyone who attacks her. "If you need help, come out peacefully. If it is a fight that you seek, reveal yourself and fight with honour!"

Perception, to see if Varielky notices anything: 4+3=7.

Auger steps out of the way so Varielky can enter ahead of him and he attempts to adjust his lighting for her as much as he can. He follows shortly after, ready to help if needed.

At the bottom of the stairs Auger stops and keeps looks around as best as he can. Perception: 2 +0 = 2.

Snow watches as Varielky and Auger head into the basement, wondering what could be down there. If it was a survivor of this attack, and had been hiding down here for over a week, he would be mistrustful of strangers as well.

On the other hand, it could be something sinister trapped down there.

He plucks a string on his violin and whispers some arcane words, feeling his senses sharpen, and makes his way down into the basement as well, using all his senses to try and find the source of the shadow that Auger had spotted.

Action: Cast Enhance Ability (Owl's Wisdom)
Perception: (11,6) + 7 = 18

The stairs are steep and Varielky must hold onto the edge of the basement bulkhead as she goes, for she can’t see her feet. On the final step, her warrior’s sense suddenly screams, she drops, and at that precise moment a small arrow plunks into the stairs exactly where her throat had been, barely grazing the top of her scalp instead (for 0hp).(OOC: surprise round.)

A guttural screech comes from the far side of the basement, under the shallow windows through which Py has been looking. There against the wall, protected from view from outside, a goblin drops its bow and rushes at Varielky, around large wet sacks of grain on the ground, drawing a thin sword as it comes. It has the initiative. It slashes at her, drawing a line of blood across her forearm for 4HP damage.

Only Varielky is in the cellar. Longsword attacks will be at disadvantage due to the low ceiling. Snow and Auger can both see the goblin from outside, now that it is close to the base of the stairs.

All, please state round 1 actions. The goblin is AC 13 with under 10 HP.

When the Goblin comes into view Auger has a few quick thoughts. The shock and then disappointment that this was not a survivor would be something he would have to process later. Varielky, he knows, can handle herself, but there might be more. The others that Py saw at the castle are not far and so noisy combat would not work well for them.

Auger reaches into the Sea of Stars and through it into the mind of the Goblin and quickly shows it a glimpse of its tiny existence in an unending cosmos. Auger holds position at the top of the stairs in order to give Varielky room to move around if needed.

Details

• Status: Concentrating on Dancing Lights.
• Action: Mind Sliver. INT 18 saving throw or take 7 damage and subtract 1d4 from the next saving throw it makes before the end of Auger's next turn.
  • Note: Its been a while for this one but I requested a while back that Auger's psychic damage always knocks things out rather than kills anything. That is his intent anyway.
• Move: No movement other than to let team members pass by if needed.
• Py: Per previous description Py is 40' up and keeping an eye for other threats, mostly focused on the Goblins in the castle.

Snow stays back, trusting Varielky to deal with a single goblin. 

"Alive would be preferable", he whispers to the others as he maintains his position as sentry, keeping all his senses attuned for further threat. He wasn't sure whether the screech was designed to alert any other hostile creature to the danger.

With that thought in mind, he once again plucks a string on his violin, and whispers different arcane words, however this time the magic manifests in his ears and allows him to understand any language, and be understood by anyone who speaks a language.

Action: Cast Tongues
Concentration: Enhance Ability (Owl's Wisdom)

"Alive? Ah, fine!" Varielky exclaims in clear disappointment. Due to the awkwardness of using her long sword in these small quarters, and in light of Snow's request, Varielky forgoes attacking with her sword as normal. Instead, she leaps to her feet, and using the momentum, bashes the Goblin with her shield, with all the strength of her stronger left hand. However, leaping too quickly, she bangs her head into the low ceiling, a feeling short Varielky is very not used to. Thus, in her second attempt to attack the Goblin with her shield, she misjudged the distance and misses completely. Frustrated, Varielky leaps forward, trying to tackle the Goblin down to the floor, hoping to pin it under her shield, but careful not to hit the ceiling again, Varielky tries to be careful and cannot muster a lot of strength.

Action: Attack. Tried to attack with her shield as an improvised weapon to knock the Goblin unconscious, but rolled a natural 1, for both attacks! (Not even with disadvantage. I believe the gods are punishing Varielky for not going for the kill.)
BA: Shield Shove to knock the Goblin prone. Athletics: 6+8=14.

Haul travelers do you have room for another fighter ?

The creature is smashed to the ground under Varielky’s shield, and there it remains, pinned, for Auger’s spell dashes its consciousness into temporary oblivion: the goblin is now out cold, it’s pointy tongue drooping to the side.

Pulling back, Varielky realizes the creature is lying in, and she—Varielky—is standing on a very shallow layer of transparent slime, which seems to be puddling around the sacks of grain toward the center of the room.

At first, they look like sacks of grain, that is, as Py said. But something… is off. As she focuses on them in the light of Auger’s swirling magical lights, Varielky sees that first of all, they are not perfectly still: they are shuddering; and too, they are glistening with a dull sheen; and in fact, they are not made of fabric, but rather, of something organic, calling to mind a skinned goat.

Outside, the dogs continue to growl and bark, but no other creatures stir in response to the goblin’s cry.

“Is there anything else down there?,” asks Granophyre, his basso hoarse with dread.

Auger moves down the steps (halfway or more), until he can see in further without crowding Varielky and repositions his lights further into the basement lighting all parts he can see. "Lets get the Goblin upstairs and into the house proper. Maybe we can get it to talk about what is going on."

(OOC: I'm not sure if Auger can see the slime or the shuddering goat skin things. If he is able to...)

Snow decides not to try and make his way into the small crowded basement, but instead wanders back around to the window and looks in from there, seeing what the combination of Auger's lights and his own dark vision allows him to see.

Perception: 13+7=20

Snow can only see distended lights and shapes moving in the basement, for the window glass is not clear. He can plainly see Varielky, and Auger’s lights, and now, Auger, but not, for example, the expressions on their faces or, specifically, any further details regarding the sacks.

(OOC: Someone will need to get close to the sacks and make a Nature roll to understand what they are.